Fluid pressure operated switch



Nov. 11, 1958 w. M. HAE SSLER 2,860,203

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED SWITCH Filed March 19. 1956 v T 4 T INVENTOR.

ii Mari/PM $15.02 [1? ,4 TTORNE Yf States Patent Y 2,860,203 FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED SWITCH Walter M. Haessler, Chatham, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 19, 1956, Serial No. 572,583 4 Claims. (31. 200 s2 The present invention relates to an improved electrical switch which is operated by fluid pressure.

More specifically the present invention is an improved fluid pressure operated switch, of the type disclosed in M. A. Laswell United States Patent No. 1,881,710. The switch is suitable for use with fire extinguishing apparatus, although it may be used for other purposes. The improved switch is particularly suitable for use with fire extinguishing apparatus of the type installed in buildings or other structures where the fire extinguishing fluid or gas is supplied under pressure to distributing points in the buildings or structure.

In the operation of this type of fire extinguishing apparatus, it is often desirable to have the release of the extinguishing fluid accompanied by the switching of an electric circuit which may be used to open an electrical circuit breaker so as to de-energize the power lines to the building, to close a circuit and sound an alarm, or for similar operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressure operated electric switch which will be automatically operated by the pressure of the extinguishing fluid when the latter is supplied to extinguish a fire.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pressure operated electric switch with a hand-reset feature.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pressure operated switch with means to indicate its operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide switch actuating means which may be readily attached to conventional electric switch means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pressure operated electric switch which is simple and economical in manufacture, eflicient in operation, and durable in use.

In accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by providing a pressure operated switch including an actuating member with opposed springs placed thereabout so that a switch operating member may be received therebetween without the necessity of the use of adjusting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a switch in accordance with the invention taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a fluid pressure operated switch in accordance with the invention and including a switch housing 11, and an electric switch 12 operated by a switch operating member 13. The structure so far described may be that of a conventional electrical switch with its housing. The fluid pressure operating means for the switch 12 is enclosed in a housing 14 and includes an operating member 15, a pair of opposed springs 16 and 17 and a piston member 18.

The switch housing 11 may be of the conventional type provided with conduit bosses 19 and 20 at each end to permit the passage through the switch of electrical wiring, or one of the bosses may be capped and the other used as a conduit for electrical wiring. Within the switch housing 11 is positioned the electric switch 12 which may have any desired number of contacts 21 depending upon the switching operation desired. The switch 12 may be molded of a thermoplastic material or made of other suitable material, and has attached thereto a plate 22 which may be apertured to receive screws 23 to secure and support the switch 12 within the housing 11. As is usual, the switch operating member 13 extends outwardly from the housing 11 so that the switch operating member may be readily manipulated.

The pressure operating means housing 14 may be made integrally with the switch housing 11, or it may be made as a separate member to be attached to the switch housing 11 over the face thereof and overlying the switch operating member 13. In the event the pressure operating means housing 14 is formed as a separate member for application to a conventional electric switch housing 11, the face of the housing 14 may be apertured to receive screws 24, or the housing 14 may be attached in position in any other conventional manner. The housing 14 is formed with an extension 25 providing a cylinder 26 preferably at the lower end thereof. The outer surface of the extension 25 is threaded as indicated at 27 to receive in threaded engagement therewith a coupling member 28 to attach to the lower end of the cylinder 26 by a pressure conduit 29. The housing 14 is made with an apertured partition 30 which acts as a guideway for the operating rod 15.

The piston 18 is positioned at the lower end of the operating rod 15 and may be secured against leaking by an O-ring 31 received in a groove 32 about the piston 18. A nut 33 is threadedly engaged on the operating rod 15 to hold the piston 18 in position. At the opposite end of the housing 14 from the extension 25 is a second extension 34 which is adapted to receive a manual reset knob 35. The inner surface of the extension 24 is grooved as indicated at 36 and the outer surface of the operating knob is grooved as indicated at 37, to receive a split ring 38. The ring 38 is preferably formed so as to stay in position in the groove 37. The knob 35 is provided with a threaded recess 39 to engage threaded end 40 of the operating rod 15. In order to guide the operating rod 15 at its upper end, an apertured partition 41 is made in the housing 14. In order to make the housing leakproof, the wall of the aperture in the partition 41 is recessed as indicated at 42 to receive an O-ring packing 43. If desired, the face of the housing 14 may be covered with a name plate 44 secured in position by drive. screws 45.

In order to facilitate the automatic adjustment of the pressure operating means with the switch operating member 13, the pair of opposed springs 16 and 17 is positioned about the operating rod 15. In order to initially separate these springs, a spacer member 48 is positioned about the rod 15, and interposed between the spring 16 and the spacer 48 is a half-round member 49 with its rounded edge 50 turned downwardly. The one end 51 of the half-round member 49 is squared and adapted to abut against wall 52 of the housing 14 in order to guide the half-round member 49 and to maintain it in position projecting outwardly from the rod 15 past the switch operating member 13. On the other side of the spacer 48 is a second half-round member 53 with its rounded surface 54 turned upwardly. It likewise has a fiat end adapted against washers 56: abuttingzt'hetends of thesprings. In

the event the fluid pressure operating means housing 14 is made separately fromctheqswitch.housing 11, gaskets 57 may be interposed betweenthehousings Hand 14 to seal the interiors thereof .againstrthe-ientry of :moisture.

In placing the-fluid pressure'operating:means in posi tion over the switch operating member .15, it will be seen that the spacer 48'providesaa space. between the halfround members 49. and. 53 so'thatxthe switch. operating member 13 may beeasily inserted-between the half-round surfaces 50 and 54, spreading the. springs 16. and'17 so that the. assembly;.may bereadily completed: without the need of adjusting;.means -of-;any--sort; The structure is such that'automatic. provisionis made for variations in the dimensions of the various-parts.

In the operation of the switch12, it maybe-actuated by fluid pressure applied. through conduit 29'to move piston 18 upwardly carrying with it operating rod 15, and by engagement of the half-round members 49 and 53, the switch operating member 13 also is moved upwardly. The manual operating knob 35 likewise is moved upwardly and the spring detent 38 slips out of its groove 36 and maintains the switch 12in the operating position and also provides an indication of its operation. Resetting of the switch 12 may be accomplished merely by pressing the manual operating'knob downwardly until it is latched into normal position by engagement of the ring 38 in.

the groove 36. The switch 12 may be manually operated by grasping the edge of the-knob 35 and lifting it upwardlyv against the action of the-detent spring 38.

From the foregoing. descriptionit will be seen that a pressure operated switch has been made which is economical in construction and which may be made as a separate andunitary assembly, or may be made as an adapter or fitting unit to be attached to a conventional switch housing with a conventional switch housed therein.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it wiil be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope. of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid pressure operated electrical switch comprising a housing, a unitary electric switch assembly including a switch operating membermounted within the housing, fluid pressure operated means within the housing and including an operating rod for the switch operating member, a pair of extension members carried by the operating rod, an otfset spacer about the operating rod between the extension members, the switch operating member positioned between the extension members, the spacer less in axial length than the width of the switch operating member, and a spring for each extension member, the springs yieldingly urging the extension members in contact with the switch operating member, the spacer providing easy assembly of the switch, whereby an automatic adjustment is had between'the'operating rod and the switch operating member, the spacer facilitating the initial positioning of the switch operating member between the extension members.

2. A fluid pressure operated electrical switch comprising a housing, a unitary electric switch assembly including a switch operating member mounted within the housing,

fluid pressure operated means within the housing and including an operating rod for the switch operating member, a pair of extension members carried by the operating rod, the extension members formed of half-round stock with the curved surface of one facing the curved surface of the other, the ends of the extension members apertured for sliding engagement with the operating rod, the switch operating member positioned between the extension members, and a spring for each extension member, the springsyieldingly urging the extension members in contact with the switch operating member, whereby an automatic adjustment is had between the operating rod and the switch operatingmember.

3. A fluid pressure operated-electrical switch'comprising a housing, a unitary electric switchassembly including a switch operating member mounted within the housing, fluid pressure operated means within the housing and including an operating rod for the switch operating member, a pair of extensionmembers carried by the operating rod, an otfset-spacer-for'the extension members, the switch operating' membe'rpositioned between the extension members,.a-spring for each extension member, the springs yieldingly urgingth'e extension members in con-' tact with the switch operating member, and spring abutment means for the outer'ends-of the springs, the spring" abutment means positioned inwardly of the ends of the operating rod allowingfree movement of the operating rod in the housing, the spacer providing easy assembly' of the switch, whereby an automatic'adjustment is had between the operating rod and the switch operating member.

4. A fluid pressure operated electrical switch comprising a housing, a unitary electric switch. assembly inc1ud=' ing a switch operating member mounted within the housing, fluid pressure operated means within the housing and including an operating rod for the switch operating mem ber, a pair of extension members carried by the operat ing rod, the extension members formed-of half-round stock with the curved'surface'of one facing the curved surface of the other, the ends of the extension members apertured for sliding engagement with the operating rod, a spacer about the operating rod between the extension members, the switch operating member positionedbe-r tween the extension members, a spring'for each extension member, the springs yieldingly urging the extension members in contact withthe switch operating member, and spring abutment means for the outer ends of the springs, the spring abutment means positioned inwardly of the ends of the operating rod allowing free movement of the operating rod in the housing, whereby an automatic adjustment is had between the operating rod and the switch operating member, the spacer facilitating the'initial positioning of the switch operating member between the ex-' tensionmembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

